TA的每日心情 | 奋斗 2024-12-14 20:50 |
---|
签到天数: 2056 天 [LV.Master]无
|
Business Standard, 15th Feb 18, b! Y1 ?: k. b# ]7 ]; I
) l' {! F a2 l* T( IIn what would be a huge capability jump, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is increasingly interested in procuring the American F-35 Lightning II for its depleting fighter fleet.# b" u. k5 d/ b% H
q3 _* n: u; u5 X! S3 yBusiness Standard learns the IAF top brass is formally requesting for a classified briefing by the F-35’s prime builder, Lockheed Martin, on the capabilities of the sophisticated, fifth-generation fighter developed under the US Joint Strike Fighter programme. s) r2 ^; s M5 c
+ v) P; Z. z) f6 Q- {( V4 a
The US government has not formally offered the F-35 to India. A classified briefing would require formal clearance from the US Department of Defence (the Pentagon) and the State Department. The grant of such a clearance would be an important first step towards permitting the sale of F-35s to India.
6 ]6 y, d* t) |4 i- ?0 m/ ^. o$ P" a8 ]% F
It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A
$ K9 ^- b/ @ h/ r5 _* A; r7 X....
* V# a( d* [; o+ Z: J" W X7 |The F-35’s affordability is also attractive for New Delhi. In contrast to the bare-bones price of $115 million for each Rafale fighter (with India-specific enhancements, spares, logistics and weapons all extra), the F-35A cost customers $94.6 million last February. Lockheed Martin says it will reduce the cost to $80 million by 2020.
& ^6 A, t% k K# Q) K: E+ N2 P* v# R8 }4 U....
1 G [( H) V0 S$ ]8 ^ [Sources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.
9 l; ?( }5 S& q7 [$ U' r( {5 o7 C$ U* U' ]
Senior officers say the IAF is not enthused about the FGFA project. They point out the F-35 is further advanced in development and has already entered service with the USAF and six-seven air forces of American allies.
; r1 {- B5 \" b; j+ {9 k5 A
6 l6 Z/ A3 z$ ^; k, Y4 z! F. \
) b; E7 m" D# ^8 @) l" ~ |
|